Death Toll from Indonesia Floods Rises to 19

Jakarta : The death toll from recent flash floods and landslides in North Maluku, Indonesia, has reached 19, with seven others injured. The floods have caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure. Fehbi Alting, head of the provincial disaster management and mitigation office, confirmed that all 19 bodies have been recovered and that heavy machinery has been deployed to expedite search and rescue operations, according to Xinhua news agency.

The local administration has declared a 14-day state of emergency in the affected areas to support relief efforts. Lt. Gen. Suharyanto, chief of the National Disaster Management Agency, visited the impacted regions to oversee the response, and the agency has provided food supplies and clothing to those affected. Abdul Muhri, an agency spokesman, noted that a coordination meeting with local authorities is planned to enhance rescue operations.

Heavy rains that began on Saturday triggered the flash floods and landslides in Ternet, cutting off the main road and access to the village of Rua in North Maluku province. The floods buried numerous houses and buildings. The search and rescue teams, working alongside local residents, have recovered the bodies and are continuing the search for missing persons. The Meteorological, Climatic, and Geophysical Agency has forecast more heavy rain for Ternet and surrounding areas. Authorities have urged residents to stay alert and adhere to safety instructions in case of further flooding. Frequent landslides and flash floods are common in Indonesia, where many people live near mountainous and flood-prone areas.